By M, KNA
Residents of Mahena area in South Sakwa Ward, Awendo Sub-county, Migori County, are all smiles following the rehabilitation of a historic water dam by Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO), an NGO.
The dam, originally dug in 1952 during the colonial period, had remained filled with silt for over 75 years, denying resident’s access to water for domestic use. Its rehabilitation has now restored a reliable water source for the community.
Speaking during the official handover of the facility, Mr. George Okewa, who commissioned the project on behalf of SHOFCO CEO Kennedy Odede, said the organization has so far desilted 20 colonial-era dams across the County to improve community access to water for domestic purposes.
He encouraged residents also to explore commercial and agricultural uses of the rehabilitated dams to enhance livelihoods.
The NGO is community-based and mobilize the largest network of social groups, such as Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) in Kenya to provide holistic, needs-driven services and to redefine the potential of citizen-led change.
Migori County Chief Officer for Fisheries and Blue Economy, George Ocholla, noted that the county government is working on a framework in partnership with SHOFCO to support communities by stocking rehabilitated water pans with fish fingerlings as part of promoting the blue economy.
Following the rehabilitation, the Mahena community has already ventured into agriculture, utilizing water from the restored dam to support farming activities and improve food security.
Martin Ondong’, a member of the Mahena Dam Community-Based Organisation (CBO) which is supported by SHOFCO said the de-siltation of the Mahena dam will enable the community to do fish farming, crop production, as well as provide water for animals and domestic use.
Ondong’ said that the initiative by SHOFCO to desilt the dam will create proper economic empowerment programmes for the community, as well as make Migori County food secure.